|
Differences Between
Islamic Teaching and Christianity |
The Qur'an |
The Bible |
External sources (the Hadith and Sira) necessary for translating the Qur'an |
Historical context contained
within the text of the Bible |
Must know Arabic in order to "fully understand" the Qur'an (according to Muslim apologists) |
Universal. Can be translated into other languages without excessive commentary. |
Chronological progression of the
Quran is from peace to violence. |
Chronological progression of the
Bible is from violence to peace. |
The words 'torture' and 'punishment' appear six
times more often than in the New Testament. |
The word 'love' appears five times more often
in the New Testament than in the Qur'an, |
Contains not a single original moral value. |
The 'Sermon on the Mount' and others. |
Suffering is an excuse for violent revenge
and establishment of Islam by force"And slay them wherever ye find them, and drive them out of the places whence they drove you out, for persecution [of Muslims] is worse than slaughter [of non-believers]...and fight them until persecution is no more, and religion is for Allah."
(Qur'an 2:191) |
Suffering builds character"We also rejoice in our sufferings,
because we know that suffering
produces perseverance; perseverance,
character; and character, hope"
(Romans 5:4) |
Emphasis on this World"And Allah has made you heirs to their land
and their dwellings and their property"
(Qur'an 33:27) |
Emphasis on the Next"Mine is not a kingdom of this world"
(John 18:36, see also Luke 14:33) |
Privilege "Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued."
(Qur'an 33:27) |
Servitude "If anyone wants to be first, he must make himself last of all and servant of all."
(Mark 9:35) |
Martyrs as Killers
"Allah hath purchased of the believers their persons and their goods; for theirs (in return) is the garden (of Paradise): they fight in His cause, and slay and are slain"
(Qur'an 9:111) |
Martyrs as Martyrs
"As it is written, For thy sake we are
killed all the day long; we are
counted as sheep for the slaughter"
(Romans 8:36) |
Killing Apostates
"They but wish that ye should reject Faith, as they do, and thus be on the same footing (as they): But take not friends from their ranks until they flee in the way of Allah (From what is forbidden). But if they turn renegades, seize them and slay them wherever ye find them"
(Qur'an 4:89, also Bukhari 52:260, 83:37...) |
Letting God Judge Apostates
"For we know Him that has said,
'Vengeance belongs unto me, I will
recompense,' says the Lord. And again,
'The Lord shall judge his people'"
(Hebrews 10:25-30) |
Punishment"Let not compassion move you
from carrying out God's law..."
(Qur'an 24:2) |
Mercy"Love is patient. Love is kind...
It keeps no record of wrongs"
(1 Corinthians 13:4-5) |
Charity and Non-BelieversMercy toward fellow Muslims - ruthlessness toward unbelievers. Muslims are warned not to befriend those outside the faith. They must even ensure that their charity tithe (zakat) does not go toward the needy of other religions.
(Qur'an 48:29, 3:28, Sharia) |
Charity and Non-BelieversChristians are specifically told that even
those who hate them are entitled to
kindness and charity. They should be loved
and cared for as surely as any fellow believer.
(Mark 10:25-37) |
The Qur'an does not command husbands
to love their wives, but it does give men
permission to beat disobedient women.
(Qur'an 4:34, Sahih Muslim 2127) |
"Husbands, love your wives and
do not be harsh with them."
(No permission to beat women)
(Colossians 3:19) |
Explicitly allows Muslim men to rape their female slaves, even those already married.
(Qur'an 4:24, 70:29-30, 23:5-6...) |
Tells masters and slaves to serve
each other as if serving God.
(Ephesians 6:7-9) |
Muhammad is the messenger
of Allah. And those who are with him
are ruthless to the unbelievers"
(Qur'an 48:29) |
"Do good to them that hate you"
(Luke 6:27) |
Allah wills those that stray and are lost
(Qur'an 16:93) |
God wants all people saved
(1 Timothy 2:4) |
Warns Against Questioning Faith.
(Qur'an 5:101-102) |
Welcomes Intellectual Challenge.
(1 Peter 3:15) |
Violence as Virtue"Fighting is prescribed for you, and ye
dislike it. But it is possible that ye
dislike a thing which is good for you, and
that ye love a thing which is bad for you.
But Allah knoweth, and ye know not."
(Qur'an 2:216) |
Violence as Sin"Do not take revenge, my friends, but
leave room for God's wrath, for it is written:
'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord. On the contrary: 'If your enemy
is hungry, feed him... '"
(Romans 12:19-20) |
Hell for unbelief.
Good deeds count for naught
(Qur'an 18:102-107) |
Hell for bad deeds and the
failure to do what is right
(Romans 2:6-8, Matthew 16:27, Matthew 25:41-45) |
Judging"Strive against the disbelievers and the hypocrites! Be harsh with them..."
(Qur'an 9:73) |
Judge Not"For when you pass judgment on another person, you condemn yourself..."
(Romans 2:1) |
Taking wealth from others"Allah promiseth you much
booty that ye will capture..."
(Qur'an 48:20) |
Working for and giving wealth to others"The thief must no longer steal but must
work hard and do what is good with his
own hands, so that he might have
something to give to the needy."
(Ephesians 4:28) |
Calls down Allah's curse on Christians
and those of other religions.
(Qur'an 9:30) |
Calls down God's blessing on
those who curse Christians.
(Matthew 5:44) |
Arrogance
"Ye are the best of peoples,
evolved for mankind"
(Qur'an 3:110) |
Humility"Inasmuch as ye did to one of
the least of these, ye did it to me."
(Matthew 25:34-40) |
"O you who believe! do not take My
enemy and your enemy for friends:
Would you offer them love while they deny what has come to you of the truth?
(Qur'an 60:1) |
"Love your enemies..."
(Luke 6:27) |